My Genealogy Hound

CHRISTIAN PETERSON, one of the most prosperous young farmers of Kearney county, was but twenty-one years of age when he came to Nebraska in 1876. His father, Peter Henryson, was a native of Denmark, was a carpenter and a farmer, and died in his native land in 1885. Peter Henryson married Cristena, daughter of Paul Swanson, who was also a carpenter and farmer, and who died in his native land, Denmark. The children born to this union were seven in number, of whom four sons came to America. Of the three brothers of our subject, the eldest, Anthon, lives in Lincoln township, this county, and owns a large and well improved farm; Jens Peter Peterson lives in an adjoining township and is also the owner of a well improved homestead. Henry, the youngest brother, was the last to come to America, but has not yet settled, and is working in the Union Pacific railroad shops in Wyoming. On first coming to Nebraska, Christian Peterson located his homestead in Lincoln township, Kearney county, in the northeast quarter of section 18, township 6, range 14, Lowell being the county seat. Mr. Peterson began improving and broke up land preparatory to cultivation, when the question of establishing the town of Minden was broached and the village was soon seen to rise from the prairie. In the meantime, however, Mr. Peterson had secured a contract to carry the mail, and for two years his route lay between Lowell and Keene; he also carried to and from Fredericksborg, and had, in all, routes for five post-offices. His farm, which is one mile from Minden, is now well improved and comprises five hundred and sixty acres, four of which are under cultivation. He has groves, orchards and commodious buildings and a handsome and desirable dwelling-house, all gained by his industry, economy and practical good sense. Taking advantage of the rapid rise of the town of Minden, Mr. Peterson, with his usual foresight, started a dairy, and for three years supplied the citizens with milk, butter, etc., and from the traffic derived a very fair income.

In 1887 Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Nellie May Warner, a daughter of H. H. Warner, a farmer of Wisconsin, but at that time a resident of Kearney county, Nebr. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Peterson is a republican. The career of Mr. Peterson, as recorded above, gives a fair example of what a young man of well directed ambition can accomplish. He was young when he came to this country, but soon imbibed American ideas of progress, and, with a natural aptitude, put them to practical use. Aided by his excellent business qualifications, this practical use of these ideas has led to wealth, honor and the respect of all who know him.